Corn-harvesting machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Patented Apr. 27, 1897.

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W. N. WHITELEY. CORN HARVESTING MACHINE.

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W. N. WHITELEY.

GORN HARVESTING MACHINE.

No. 581,818. Patented Apr. 27,1897.

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UNITED STATES WILLIAM N. WVHITELEY, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO EUGENE W. KELLEY AND CHARLES E. EVERET, OF MUN OIE, INDIANA.

CORN-HARVESTING MACHINE.

BSPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581,318, dated April 27, 1897. Application filed May 11, 1892. Serial No. 432,563. (No model.)

To all whom, it Wtay concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM N. WHITELEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Harvesting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of cornharvesting machines which are provided with cutting-knives adapted to be moved against standing stalks of corn and cut the same, the corn being gathered upon the machine by operators who ride thereon, the machine being drawn by horse-power, the animals walking between the rows.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine of this character of novel construction which is simple and effective in its operation.

A further object of my invention is to support the front end of the knife-carrying frame with the supporting-wheel operating in connection with runners rearward to support the machine in operation to facilitate the turning of the machine at the end of the stalk-rows upon the single wheel.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel constructions in the cutting devices by which the cutting-blades are interchangeable and double-edged.

A further object of my invention is to produce supports beneath the hinged wings by which the wings and knife-carrying frame are to a certain extent independent of each other and each separately supported on the ground.

A further object of my inven tion is to have a fixed position on each of the wings for the operators foot-support and a combined foot and leg support on the knife-carrying frame and a safety-support in the rear of the operator.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel constructions for the support of the operator in his working position on the machine,which position is predetermined and which can always be occupied without any skill or thought in the operators assuming their position, as it is necessary for them to do after depositing each of the gathered bunches of corn.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for adjusting various parts of the machine for the work to be performed. 5 5

I accomplish these objects by the constructions shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2'is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same, showing the parts turned to a different position in operation. Fig. 4 is a detail View in perspective of one of the knife-supporting devices. Fig. 5 is a detail, partly in section, of the adjusting devices for the supporting-wheel. Fig. 6 is a detail hereinafter referred to. Fig. 7 is a detail of theknife-fastening.

Like parts are represented by similar let- 7o ters of referencein the several views.

In the said drawings, A represents a platform or table which is constructed on and supported by supporting-runners A A in the nature of a sled. Secured to each side of the table A, preferably by pivotal connections or hinges a, are the knife-supporting plates or leaves A A These leaves or plates are formed at the front at an angle to the line of draft or to the runners A and are supplied on their front and angular edges with cutting-knives b I). These cutting-knives are constructed with a cutting edge on each side, as shown in detail in 6. They are bolted or otherwise detachably secured to the front of the supporting-plates A so as to be interchangeable and reversible, so as to fit on either side wing and present a new surface when one surface becomes worn or dull.

The supporting plates or wings A are prefo erably formed of metal of sufficient thickness to secure the proper rigidity, such, for instance, as boiler-plate, and to these plates the hinged connections a are riveted or otherwise secured. The hinged or pivotal con- 5 nections a are preferably locatedupon the table A at a point slightly inside of the outer edge of the table, so that the hinged leaves or plates are supported in their normal position substantially parallel to said table.

These leaves or plates are also preferably provided with runners Z), attached at or near the outer edge thereof, and of a height sufficient to normally clear the ground when the machine is in an operative position, except when passing over rough or uneven surfaces. These runners are each preferably formed of a single U-shaped piece of metal bolted or otherwise secured at one side to the supporting-plate, with the other side forming the shoe or runner.

Located in front of the table A and be tween the runners A A is a supporting-wheel A. This wheel is supported by and adapted to turn on a stationary shaft 0, preferably provided with suitable collars or retainingwashers c on each side of the wheel A to prevent a lateral movement thereon. This shaft or axle c is adjustably supported at each end in supporting-housings (l, secured to the inside of the runners A near the front and provided with a series of openings (1, adapted to receive a connecting-pin, preferably iu the form of a split key d which passes through said openings cl in the sides of the housing (Z and through the supporting shaft or axle c. The supporting'wheel A is made of such diameter that when in the normal position with its periphery resting on the ground, as indicated by the dotted line X X in Fig. 2, the front end of the runners and table are elevated, causing them, as well as the cuttin g-knives,to stand at an angle to the groundline as the machine is advanced in a forward direction. This angle may be adjusted, as desired, by raising or lowering the supporting axle or shaft in the adjustable supporting-housings connected to the frame or runners. Arranged centrally above the table A is a central support or guard B, supported at the front and rear by suitable standards or braces e e e. The braces or guards e e at the front of this guard are connected to the frame or runner, preferably through the supporting-housing d thereon. Each of these supporting-housings is formed at the top into a foot-support (1 over which the brace-rod e is curved inwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to substantially inclose the foot of the operator in said support. Arranged 011 each of the plates or leaves A is an upwardly-projecting angular piece f, bolted or otherwise secured to said plates or leaves, also adapted to form a foot and. brace guard for the operator.

At the front of the machine and connecting the respective runners thereof and inclosing the supporting-wheel A is a curved rod or bar 0, the respective ends of which are bent inwardly and extended through openings which pierce said runners, in which they are secured by fasteniu g-nuts or otherwise. This bar or rod G forms a guide or fender to direct the down or leaning stalks to the outside of the respective runners and in contact with the cutting-knives as the machine advances. At the rear of the machine I provide a handle D, secured to the frame or table to facilitate the operation of turning the machine, as hereinafter more fully described.

The operation of the machine as thus dc scribed is as follows: The machine is drawn forward, by any convenient motive power, between two rows of standing corn, which, as the machine advances, is directed against the angular cutting-knives I), which sever the same. Two operators occupy positions on the machine, standing back to back and braced against the central support I), each with one foot on the foot-supports (Z and the other against the foot brace f. As the machine advances the operators grasp the incoming stalks in the respective rows and draw them in onto the table on which they stand. When a sufficient number of stalks have been thus cut, the machine is stopped, the operators carry them to a shock and deposit the same, after which they again mount the machine and pro coed as before. When the ends of the rows are reached, the operators descend and the rear end of the frame or table is raised by the handle 1) until the runners clear the ground. In this position the machine is operated in the nature of a wheelbarrow, turning on the supporting-wheel A until it is located at the end of the next succeeding rows in proper position to pass between them, when it is again ready for operation.

By the construction as thus described the principal weight on the machine is carried on the supporting-wheels, which thus relieves the machine of the heavy draft which occurs when supporting -runners alone are used, while sufficient weight remains on the supportingrunners to prevent the jolting and jarring that would occur if the machine were supported entirely on wheels. The auxiliary supporting-runners b for the knife plates or leaves cause the said plates or leaves to be elevated, to conform to uneven surfaces, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and thus cut the corn in the rows at a uniform height. The footguards, in connection with the central brace or support, furnish a firm footing and support for the operators, so that it is almost impossible to dislodge them from their position by any uneven motion or jerking of the ma chine. By the supporting-wheel adjustable means are provided for varying the height of cut as well as the angle thereof.

The special arrangement of the foot-guards, one of which is arranged substantially in line with the pivotal connection between the hinged wings and the other upon' the wing, which is supported by a separate and independent support or runner, furnishes the means of locating the operator in the most convenient and best position for gathering the corn and retaining himself in position 011 the machine. The brace e, extending above the front foot-support, furnishes also a legbrace of support under which the foot of the operator becomes locked, thus giving him a position on the machine from which it is almost impossible to dislodge him by any angular position or otherwise which the platform may assume in passing furrows or uneven places. The auxiliary runners on the wings also materially assist in this function, as by their use the said wing is supported independently of the frame, and in the event that said platform and frame assume an acute angular position, which sometimes happens when running over uneven ground by reason of the necessary narrow construction of the frame, the wing may remain in its substantially horizontal position and thus aiford a sufficient support for the operator.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a corn-harvestin g machine having two main supporting-runners, the rear ends resting upon the ground, and their front ends carried above the ground by a single supporting-wheel between them, and hinged side wings carrying the cutting-blades, which are pivoted to the frame of the machine, and each provided at the rear with supports to carry said side wings above the ground, and independent of each other, to be turned upward in passing over shock-rows, substantially as specified.

2. In a corn-harvesting machine'a foot-support on the supporting-frame, in front of the cutting-blade, and a foot-support on the rear of the hinged Wing, said supports being so arranged that the operator may maintain one foot in a longitudinal direction to the travel of the machine, and one at right angles thereto, which positions are thus'predetermined and arranged, so that the operator may always take the same position at each successive mounting and dismounting from the machine, substantially as specified.

3. In a corn-harvesting machine adapted to be drawn between standing rows, and carry ing the operators, a front supporting-wheel combined with runners, which pass between the corn-rows, the rear ends only of which normally rest upon the ground, the carryingwheel being adapted to hold the front of the runners above the ground, causing the machine to move lightly, combined with guides or runners under the hinged wings, which support the cutting-blades, the whole constructed for joint operation, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of May, A. D. 1892.

' WILLIAM N. WHITELEY.

\Vitnesses:

E. L. DoDsoN, D. T. GIBsoN. 

